Art Franklin

Art Franklin is a multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist, whose career spans more than 35 years. The Detroit native and University of Michigan alum first came to Alabama in 1991 as an anchor at WBRC-TV6. At WBRC, Art gained notoriety as the first African American male to anchor in prime time in Birmingham. Art’s broadcasting career began in radio at WDZZ-FM 93 in Flint, MI, where he worked as an announcer, production manager, sports anchor and news anchor before leaving for his first job in television at WILX-TV (NBC) in Lansing, MI. At WILX, Art became the first African American male to anchor a regularly broadcast newscast in Lansing. He was also the station’s capitol reporter and business reporter. Art was hired away from WILX by the NBC station in Norfolk, VA, WAVY-TV10, to become the station’s military affairs correspondent. In addition to regular reporting from the Pentagon, it is at WILX that Art was sent on overseas assignments covering the conflict in the Persian Gulf including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and the Caribbean. While at WAVY-TV, Art anchored the station’s public service program called the Bottom Line. He was also a fill-in anchor. Additionally, Art was news director at WOWI Radio and anchored a two-hour live radio talk show at the station. When Art left Birmingham in 2003, he wrote a book called, “Give It All You Got,” a motivational book for young men. He returned to television in Atlanta at WXIA 11Alive News, the NBC affiliate, before becoming an anchor at WAGA-TV FOX 5, where he worked until starting a public relations firm. Art returned to news and Birmingham to launch the CBS 42 Morning News with Art Franklin and served as managing editor. He now anchors the 4, 5, 6, and 10 P.M. newscasts. Among Art’s more than 75 journalistic and community awards are: Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement – News Excellence – for spot news coverage in Atlanta in 2005, Outstanding Achievement Television Programming Excellence in 1995, Scripps Howard Excellence in Journalism Award, 1994, RTNDA Best Documentary, 1994, Alabama Associated Press Award – Best Documentary 1994, Alabama Associated Press Award Best Reporter 1995, Virginia UPI Best Reporter 1989, and Hampton Roads Black Media Professional Best Spot News Coverage 1990. Most recently, Art was inducted into the 2019 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle, which recognized more than 25 years in the industry, and in 2017, the Alabama Broadcasting Association named Art, Alabama’s Best New Anchor.